Hydraulic lift



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shea?. 1.

M. C. BULLOGK. HYDRAULIC LIFT.

No. 580,154. Patented Apr. 6, 18

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. 0. BULLOCK.

HYDRAULIC LIFT.

No. 580,154. Patentd Apr. 6,. 1897'.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILAN C. BULLOCK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HYDRAULIC LIFT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,154, dated April 6,1897'.

Application filed August 15, 1895.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILAN C. BULLocK, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Hydraulic Lifts; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for lifting or thelike of that kind in which a cylinder containing a piston is employed asa means of applying the actuating power, and more particularly to anovel form of such device in which pressure is directly applied to thepiston by means 0f water and pressure is transmitted to the waterthrough the medium of compressed air.

A device embodying my invention is more particularly adapted for use inmachine-shops and foundries for handling heavy pieces of metal, but itis equally adapted for hoisting wherever a portable apparatus for suchpurpose is needed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is aview in central axial section of a lifting apparatus embodying anapproved form of my invention. Fig. 2 is an external side elevationthereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof. Figs. 4 and 5 are detailsections illustrating changed positions of the valve thereof. Fig. Gis adetail section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is a detail sectionillustrating a more simple form of my apparatus embodying the mainfeatures of my invention.

As shown in said drawings, Figs. l to 6, A indicates a water-cylinderwhich is closed at its upper and lower ends and contains a pis- Yton B,attached to a piston-rod C, which latter extends through a stuffing-boxA in the lower head of the cylinder and is provided at its lower endwith a hook c or other means of attachment to the load to be lifted.

D indicates a closed water and air chamber which is attached to thecylinder A and in this instance is of annular form and surrounds thecylinder A, the same being formed by an annular external wall castintegral with the cylinder-wall and joined to the same at its bottom.The cylinder and chamber are Serial No. 559,354. (No model.)

closed by a common head E, which is shown as provided with a strong eyee, by which the apparatus may be supported from an overhanging support.The tank D is connected at its bottom with the cylinder A by passages dand cl3 and an intervening valve through which water contained in thetank may pass to the lower end of the cylinder beneath the pistontherein.

F indicates an air-supply pipe through the y medium of which air underpressure may be supplied to the tank D above the water therein, theintent being that the air-pressure acting on the top of the water in thechamber will force the same therefrom into the cylinder beneath thepiston, and thus lift the latter with the load attached to thepiston-rod. The said air-pipe F will be connected with any suitablesource of air-supply, such as an air-pump operated by a suitable motor.

The chamber D is provided with an air passage or port d2, through whichair may enter the chamber or may be allowed to escape to permit water toflow from the cylinder backwardly into the chamber, and thus allow thedescent of the piston. In connection with the air-supply pipe will beprovided a suitable valve, herein shown in the form of a rotating plug-valve, by which air may be admitted to and be allowed to escape fromthe chamber, as desired. The cylinder A is provided at its top with anexhaust-port a for the air which must necessarily escape when the pistonrises. tween the chamber and cylinder with a valve H, herein shown ashaving the form of a rotating plug-valve, by means of which the passageof water backward from the cylinder to the chamber D may be cut off,thereby locking the piston and the load from descending when the valveis closed, it being obvious that any descent of the piston will beimpossible except when the valve is open.

The valves G and H illustrated are of special form, and they areactuated by a single actuating device, so that both may be movedtogether in the operation of the apparatus. These valves, as shown inthe drawings, are constructed as follows: First referring to the valveG, the same is constructed to control not only the passage of air fromthe air-supply pipe F to t-he chamber D and its exit from l also providethe passage bel IOO said chamber, but to also control the exhaust [F tothe top of the cylinder, while the air air-passage a, and for thispurpose the same is made as follows: Said valve, as clearly shown inFigs. 3 and 6, is located within a cylindric casing E', formed on thetop of the casing E and closed at its outer end by means of a gland E2,between which and the end of the valve-plug G is located a suitablepacking e to prevent the escape of air from the valve. The plug isprovided with a valve-stem g, which extends outwardly through thepacking e and gland E2 and has connected with it an actuating-lever G,preferably extended to form a handle by which it may be actuated.

In the plug G is an axial passage y', connecting with a transversepassage g2, which is arranged in the same plane with the airexit openinga of the cylinder and the port cl2 of the chamber and is adapted forcommunication with said exit-opening and port when the plug is turned tothe proper positions for this purpose. The passage g' extends to theinner end of the plug, and the casing E2 at such inner end of the plughas an exit-opening e to allow the escape of air. It follows from thisconstruction that when the plug is turned to bring the radial passage g2opposite the port a the top of the cylinder will be brought intocommunication with the outer air, as seen in Figs. 1 and 6. The saidpassage g2 is also adapted to establish communication of the chamberwith the open air through the port d2 when the plug is turned into theproper position for this purpose, as seen in Fig. 5. The valve-plug G isalso provided with a groove g3, extending part way around the same andadapted to form a passage for air from the air-pipe F to the port d2 orto the port a, as desired.

The operation of the valve G thus made is as follows: When it is desiredto lift the load, the piston B being at the bottom or lower part of thecylinder A, the valve is turned to bring the passage g2 opposite theport a, at which time the grooves g3 will be in communication with thepassage cl2, as clearly seen in Fig. l. Air will now pass from thesupply-pipeF to the chamber D and will act to force the water therefrominto the cylinder Abeneath the piston thereof, and thus raise saidpiston. As the piston rises air in the upper part of the cylinder Awillescape therefrom through the port d and passage g2 of the valve-plug.The load having been lifted to a desired point, if it now be desired tostop the influx of air the plug G is turned to bring the passage g2opposite that part of the valvecasing between the ports a and d2, atwhich time both of said ports will be covered or closed by the parts ofthe plug at either side of said radial passage, as clearly seen in Fig.4. If it now be desired to lower the load, the plug G is further turned,so as to bring the passage g2 opposite the port d2 and to bring thegroove g3 in communication with the port a. In this position of theplug, as seen in Fig.

within the chamber D will escape therefrom through the port d2 andpassage g2 to the outer air, the water being forced out of the cylinderA and into the chamber D as the air escapes from said chamber. Thepiston will of course descend under the action of the load by merelypermitting the escape of air from the chamber without air-pressure abovethe piston, but its movement is hastened by admitting air-pressure tothe top of the piston. To .now refer to the lower or locking valve H,the same consists of a plug which is provided with a transverse passagepartially around the circumference of the same and 'into which thepassage h extends. Said valve-plug is mounted in a cylindric seat formedin the metal of the cylinder, and the passage d leads from the chamber Dto the valve-seat, and the other passage d leads from said seat into thebottom of the cylinder. The valve is placed in position to permit thepassage of Water from the chamber to the cylinder by so turning it thatthe end of the passage h is opposite the passage d, while one end of thegroove h communicates with the passage cl'. This position of the plug isshown in Fig. 1. If it be desired to cut off communication between thechamber and cylinder, so as to positively lock the piston fromdescending under the Weight of the load, the valve is turned to bringthe end of the passage h between the passages d and d', at which timethe surface of the plug at both sides of said passage' H will cover thepassages cZ d', as seen in Fig. 4. If it be now desired to lower theload, the plug H is further turned, as seen in Fig. 5, to bring thepassage h in connection with the passage d', at which time water maypass from the cylinder to the said chamber.

By the special construction described in the IIO two valve-plugs G and Hthey are adapted to be placed in position for proper coaction by anequal extent of angular movement, and in order that both may be actuatedat the same time the lower plug H is provided with an actuating-lever H,which is connected with an actuating-lever G' by a connecting-rod I. Byso connecting and constructing the valves the advantage is gained thatboth valves may be moved for controlling the action of the piston byactuating one movable part, such as the lever G. The simultaneous action0f the two valves will be readily understood by inspection of Figs. l,4, and 5, from which it will be seen that by turning both valves in thesame direction from the position shown in Fig. l they will rst bebrought into position for stopping the upward movement ofthe piston andlocking it from further movement, and thereafter for permitting downwardmovement of the piston through the outward escape of air from thechamber D and the backward iiow of water from said cylinder to the 5,air under pressure will pass from the pipe chamber.

v pression engine. may be carried to the hoisting device through It willof course be understood that where the hoisting device is suspended froman elevated support or is for other reason inaccessible to the operatora suitable connection may be made by chains or otherwise for actuatingthe valves from the point at which the operator may be stationed. Itwill be understood, moreover, that in a machine-shop a number of suchhoisting devices may be located at different points and branch airpipesmaylead thereto from a common supply-pipe receiving air under pressurefrom an air-com- Moreover, the air-supply flexible pipe or hose, thusenabling the same to be moved or shifted from place to place as desired.

'While the special construction illustrated in Figs. l to G, as abovedescribed, has important advantages in point of cheapness and simplicityof construction and ease of manipulation and management, yet certain ofthe main parts or features of my invention may be embodied in otherforms of apparatus embracing fewer parts than illustrated in saidiigures. To illustrate what is here meant, I have shown in Fig. 7 a formof hoisting device much more simple than that shown in the otherfigures. In this instance acylinder A and chamber D are employed, whichare Aarranged in the same manner as hereinbefore described and areclosed by means of a single head E. In this instance a passage J isprovided between the cylinder A and chamber D, which passage is withoutany valve, so that it is always open. Fin this case indicates anair-supply pipe which is connected with a valve-casing K, which casingis connected with the chamber D by a pipe k and is provided with anair-exit passage 7f3'. W'ithin the valve-casing is provided a plug L,having a transverse passage l, which is made of considerable width atthe side of the plug ad jacent to the pipe k, so that the passage willalways remain in communication with the pipe when the plug is turned oroscillated.

The small end of the passagel may, by the turning of the plug, bebrought into connection with the pipe F or air-escape passage Za atwill, so that by turning the plug air may either be delivered underpressure to the chamber D or may be allowed to escape therefrom. A yokeL', attached to the valve-plug L and provided with hanging ropes Z Z',offers a convenient means for turning or actuating the valve. To permitthe escape of air from the upper end of the cylinder and its admissionthereto, a small relief-passage Mis made in the cylinder-head E. Theoperation of this device is practically the same as that beforedescribed. In this instance, however, there is no locking-valve forholding the water Within the cylinder A, so that descent of the loadwhen stationary is prevented solely by the air-pressure within thechamber, which latter is maintained by the closing of the airvalve L. Inthis instance, moreover, the descent of the load is permitted merely bythe escape of air from the chamberD through the escape-passage 7c', andno air is forced into the top of the cylinder, air at such time enteringthrough the ports m, so as to prevent formation of a vacuum in the upperend of the cylinder. This form of apparatus, while useful for manypurposes, is not as advantageous as that shown in Figs. l to 6, for thereason that any slight leakage of air from the VchamberD will result inthe gradual descent of the piston under the weight of the load as theair escapes.

Among the many important advantages gained by the employment ofwater-pressure as a means for directly actuating the piston of a liftingor power-applying device, together with air-pressure as a means fortransmitting pressure to the water, is that the irregularity of action,due to the elastic character of air, is in such case largely eliminated,inasmuch as no movement of the load can take place without the passageof water from the chamber D to the cylinder A, or vice versa, therebygiving steadiness of movement in the starting and stopping of the partsand at all other times. A special advantage is gained by the use of alocking-valve between the wateroylinder and the chamber, for the reasonthat, water being incompressible and it being much easier to make valveswater-tight than airtight, the piston may be positively locked by suchvalve at any point without liability of its descending by leakagepastthe valves under a heavy load.

I claim as my inventionl. A portable hoisting apparatus, comprising awater-cylinder and a closed air-chamber, which are rigidly attachedtogether, are connected by a water-passage at their lower ends, and areprovided with a common supporting means, a piston in the cylinderprovided with a piston-rod which protrudes through the lower head of thecylinder and is provided with load-attaching means, and an air-supplypipe connected with the top of the air-chamber, said air-chamber havingan exhaust-passage opening from its top into the open air, and means forcontrolling the said air-supply pipe and exhaust-passage, substantiallyas described.

2. A portable hoisting apparatus, comprisin g a water-cylinder and aclosed air-chamber, which are rigidly attached together, are connectedby a water-passage at their lower ends and are provided with a commonsupporting means, a locking-valve in said passage connecting thecylinder and air-chamber, a piston in the cylinderprovided With apistonrod which protrudes through the lower head of the cylinder and isprovided with loadattaching means, and an air-supply pipe connected withthe top of the air-chamber and provided with a controlling-valve; saidairchamber having an exhaust-passage opening IOO IIO

from its top into the open air, and also provided withacontrolling-valve, substantially as described.

3. A portable hoisting apparatus, comprisingawater-cylinder and a closedair-chamber which are rigidly attached together, are connected by awater-passage at their lower en ds, and are provided with a commonsupporting means, a locking-valve in said passage connecting thecylinder and air-chamber, a piston in the cylinder provided with apistonrod which protrudes through the lower head of the cylinder and isprovided with loadattaching means,an air-supply pipe connected with thetop of the air-chamber; said airchamber having an exhaust-passage whichopens from its upper end into the open air, and means for controllingsaid air-supply pipe and exhaust-passage having operative connectionwith said locking-valve, whereby all of said passages may besimultaneously opened or closed, substantially as described.

4. A portable hoisting apparatus comprisinga water-cylinder and a closedair-chamber, of annular form, which surrounds the said cylinder and isconnected at its bottom with the bottom of said water-cylinder by awaterpassage, said cylinder and air-chamber being provided with commonsupporting means, a piston in the cylinder provided with a pistonrodwhich protrudes through the lower head of the cylinder and is providedwith loadattaching means, and an air-supply pipe connected with the topof the air-chamber having an exhaust-passage opening from its top intothe open air and also provided with a controlling-valve, substantiallyas described.

5. The combination with a cylinder provided with a piston andpiston-rod, of a closed chamber communicating at its lower end with 4othe cylinder, a locking-valve in the pa'ssge between the chamber andcylinder, an sirsupply passage connected Wi'th the top of the chamber,an air-exit passage also communieating with the top of the chamber,ansi!"- exit port in the top of the cylinder, a single valve controllingthe said air-supply and airexit passages and a connection between saidvalve last mentioned and said locking-valve by which both of said valvesVmay be moved 5o together, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a cylinder prvided with a piston and piston-rod,of an airchamber, a passage connecting the bottom of the air-chamberwith one end of the cylinder, 55 a rotating plu g-valve for controllingsaidpas'- sage, said plug-valve being provided with a transverse passageand a circumferential groove or recess communicating therewith, anair-supply pipe, air-exit passages leading from the top of theair-chamber and from the said cylinder, a plug-valve for controlling thesaid air-supply passage and exit-passages containing an axial passageleading radin. ly through the side of the plug and a circumferentialgroove in the same plane therewith and means connecting said valves witheach other by which they may be moved together, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, this 19th day of June, A. D.1895.

MILAN c. BUL'LOCK.

VVitness'es:

C. CLARENCE PooLE, ALBERT H. GRAVES.

